How many of you have had spinal taps as part of your original tests when you first started having symptoms and has anyone had them thereafter? The reason I am
asking is that they never gave me one as part of the tests they did back in August of this year but because I still have headaches, neckaches and backaches 4
months later plus paralysis they want me to have one now. I am frightened because I heard it is painful and can cause further injury. Input please.
Spinal Taps
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 thissucks |
Spinal Taps |
Lead | |
|
Posts: 10 (12/11/08 18:27:00) |
|
||
|
jack raney |
|||
|
Posts: 98 (12/11/08 20:03:59) |
I had 3 while I was in the hospital, the 1st one hurt like hell, the other 2 I was kind of out of it at the time. If I was asked to have one done to find out
what was wrong with me, that little bit of pain wouldn't matter. They give you a local to numb the area where they will draw the fluid from, what hurts is
if you move around after they do it, it can give you the biggest headache you'll ever have. As far as something going wrong well they wouldn't have the
janitor give it to you.
The debate is whether this will give you a better insight of the extent of your illness or validate how you feel? Jack Raney
|
||
|
elaine |
|||
|
Posts: 60 (12/11/08 22:30:16) |
...had one 6 months after first diagnosis, which was four months after I got WNV.
...very uncomfortable since the quack had trouble getting the needle in the right place. ...good news: negative for the stuff they were looking for. Elaine |
||
|
mumto7 |
|||
|
Posts: 33 (12/12/08 09:24:55) |
LOL! You wimpy boys! After having seven children........you is all just wimps! Just kiddin'.
I had one while in the hospital. I knew what it would be like beause I've had several epidural's. The only difference being with an epidural they do not want to actually get into the spinal fluid where as the spinal tap they do. As far as headaches after goes, that did not happen to me. It is a possibility but as they will explain to you, the head ache occurs if there is a leak. If there is a leak, they can go back in and patch it up. Sounds confusing but it isn't. How the spinal feels is really up to who is giving it to you. Just like when you have blood drawn. You can have some phlebotomists who do such a good job you hardly feel it and others you think there are barbs all over the needle. What they will have you do is roll over onto your side into a tight ball. Fetal position so that your back bone can stick out. They give you a local first. It is a prick. Like any needle, you feel it but it is quick. The main thing is remember not to move! Here's where it would help if you'd gone through labor.  ) Find something in front of you to focus on. Stare at it and slowly breath in and out. The next poke is the actual spinal tap. To know what it feels
like have someone stand behind you, take their thumb and push really hard on your spine. It is more pressure than sharp pain.
It goes rather quickly. Take some Motrin before hand to help with the first initial poke. Truthfully, it isn't that bad but I also have had mine done by people who do them all of the time. I had one do one that I kid you not, I did not even feel. I was shocked. He was from Pakistan of all places. ) So glad he
is over here. I liked him. You have the right to choose who does it. Get someone to do it that does a lot of epidural's for labor and delivery.
Like everything, there is risk involved. As Jack said, is it just another test that they want you to pay for or is it really necessary? Being frightened is normal. I was kidding earlier. Even with all the epidural's I've had, I was still scared to death of the spinal and was so relieved when it was over. I'm not a big fan of needles........ When are you supposed to have this done? I'll keep you in my prayers. Do you have someone to go with you for support? |
||
|
janwan |
|||
|
Posts: 46 (12/14/08 07:51:17) |
Agree with mumto7, didn't hurt that much. I was so sick, in the emergency admitting room at the hospital, and I didn't care WHAT they did, as long as
it made me better. I was then diagnosed with menningitis. The blood test for wn came back positive a few days later. It has been 16 months for me and I am much
better now, but not even close to the way I was before wn. Hang in there. It will get better with time. It just takes a L-O-N-G-time.
Janice |
||
|
thissucks |
|||
|
Posts: 11 (12/14/08 18:36:11) |
Thanks everyone for you input. My primary physician suggested the spinal tap because I have a headache, neckache and backache everyday still. I am also having
memory issues that seem to be getting worse. I have to see the neurologist first before the decision to have the spinal comes to fruition. I am still weighing
the pros and cons. At this point I am feeling it really isn't necessary. I don't want to spend the money and I really don't want the pain but I
will let you know what happens.
Thanks again. |
||
|
mumto7 |
|||
|
Posts: 38 (12/14/08 20:45:19) |
Thissucks, keep us posted!
|
||
|
cag121 |
|||
|
Posts: 11 (12/14/08 21:59:57) |
Yes, keep us posted!
I've had one, at my initial visit to a clinic in IL in august. seriously the scariest thing I've ever gone through, being 2000 miles from home, told I'm sick and asked if they can "probe my spine"... but in retrospect it wasn't that bad. They are painful, especially if you ignore the warnings about moving afterward or lifting things... bad idea. But they explain everything very thoroughly, and my doctor would not proceed until he was sure I understood and he had answered all my questions. If you're still having problems, it's good to rule out anything possible, so your doctors can narrow down your treatment needs. Let me know how your neurologist appointment goes too! I have my first one in two weeks to try and figure out why I'm still having these intense headaches and backaches after 5 months. Best of luck to you, you'll be in my prayers. |
||
|
jeff |
|||
|
Posts: 20 (12/18/08 19:30:16) |
How is the paralysis? Is that getting better?
|
||
|
jack raney |
|||
|
Posts: 103 (12/19/08 11:03:04) |
I can only speak for myself when it comes to paralysis, it was a tough row to hoe in the beginning, why couldn't I do the things I use to do just
because some mosquito "Bit" me? The challenge wasn't getting better physically, it was more of a mental challenge. At first all I wanted to do
was sulk in self pity, then more self pity until I got to the point I was tired of being the way I was and had to assert some energy towards getting better.
Even then I didn't give it my all, I still couldn't wrap my mind around how I was was going to be forever if I didn't change.
Jack Raney
Last Edited By: jack raney
12/19/08 12:58:48.
Edited 1 times.
|
||
|
jeff |
|||
|
Posts: 21 (12/20/08 23:21:37) |
I tell ya Jack, it's a tough pill to swallow. The paralysis is poliomyelites, as you probably know. So the chances of a full recovery are slim. I can't
quite think about that as I do see improvement everyday. And I have to hold onto some hope....
I used to say to myself, "I'm 45 y.o., I'm getting so old". Now after paralysis, I say "Wait, I'm ONLY 45 years old!" It's so weird.......healthy all the way thru the point of West Nile, then "BAM!" Taking each day as it comes. What has really helped is getting back to driving this past week. Didn't have to stare at 4 walls throughout the day. So now there is something besides physical therapy and dwelling on West Nile. Getting back to life has been helpful...... |
||
|
jack raney |
|||
|
Posts: 104 (12/21/08 13:25:11) |
I can't think of anything harder to do than to recover from West Nile, it would be different if it was just a flu like illness and in a couple day's
life back to normal. It challenges us or I should say it challenged me, I had to find the will to survive, the determination to get better and the drive to do
something everyday towards getting better.
I can say this Jeff, if you want to get better then you will, it might not be what you were before, but a heck of a lot better than you are now. Even though I'm still here and it might seem that I haven't got over it, I have. There are times when you can't help but dwell on it, I know I still do because it is a part of me, something I can't let go of and not sure if I ever will. West Nile didn't just knock me back a little it rocked my world, everything about the world I ruled was changed, no longer was I the king of that world, but now a servant of it. Maybe I'm in denial when it comes to getting old here, I'm 50 and as long and I breath I refuse to grow up and act my age. It is hard to accept that one can be healthy and strong, independent one day and the next be a slave to something no one can explain to you. I would be different if there was a visible explanation to the force that invaded your body and left you dependent on others around you. Glad to hear your driving again, I know it was a big deal to me when I was able to drive again. I guess it part of the independence you once had that you felt you lost or at least I did. I remember the 1st time I had to drive, my wife had driven us to a family dinner in Northern California. She was beat and couldn't go any further so I told her I would drive for a while, what a mistake it was on my part. I learned I wasn't ready for the responsibility of driving and would wait till I had a little more recovery time under my belt. It get's better..... I forgot do you live in Southern California? Jack Raney
|
||
